Can opener



Oct. 26 1926. 1,604,288

T. A. KILLMAN ET AL CAN OPENER Filed Oct. 11, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 26

T. A. KILLMAN ET AL.

CAN OPENER Filed Oct. 11, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m M M Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

warren star-as TENT THOMAS A. IELELLMAN AND SEVELL DAVIS, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIG-NGRS, DlREGT AND Iv'ItES-ltE ASfilG-l ll ilifllfl'lfg, TO POL-LY WIGGIN, INC OF NEWARK, JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CAN OPENER.

Application filed October 11, 3.924.

This invention relates to can openers, and more particularly to that type of can open: er including a piercing member engaging in the top of the can centrally thereof and a rotating cutter carried by the piercing member engaging the can top adJacent its periphery to sever the same.

A. further object of the invention is to improve the structure shown in our prior application, Serial No. 633,912, filed April 23, 1923, and allowed January 9, 1924:.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining this cutter in cutting engagement with the top of the can without the necessity of applying to the outer end of the member, upon which the cutter is mounted, a continuous pressure to overcome the resistance to such cutting, and to further maintain the cutter at all times in fixed. relation to the periphery of the can, so that it is immaterial whether or not. the exact center of the can is primarily engaged by the pointed end of the member upon which the cutter is mounted.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of this character a pair of pivotally connected handles, one of which brings into engagement with the under surface of the can top edge a member acting. as a fulcrum for leverage, which is. then applied. between the handle members to form the necessary pressure for forcing the cutter member into the material of the can top.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a can opener of this character which is capable of use with cans of greatly varying diameters, and. which operates as efficiently with a can of large diameter as with a can of smaller diameter, and in which the pressure which must be exerted to force the cutter through the can top is at all times dependent upon the strength of the material employed in the formation of the can top and not upon the distance between the cutter and the pivot point represented by the pointed end of the member upon which the cutter is mounted.

These and other objects we attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of our invention and wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a can opener constructed in accordance With Serial No. 743,012.

our invention engaged with the can top prior to the operation of' forcing the cutting memher through the can top;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof in a position similar 'to that shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar side elevation but showing the parts in the position assumed when the cutter disk has perforated the can p;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional. View taken through the can opener while in inoperative position, the dotted lines showing the extensible connection between the sections of the cutter-carrying member;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken at right angles to that shown in Figure 4 and upon the axis of the shaft;

I Figure 6 is a View showing the bar section removed and employed in the construction of an ordinary can opener.

Figure 7 is a perspective View of a further modified form of can opener embodying many of the features of the form shown in Figures 1 to 5;

Figure 8 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view therethrough;

Figure 9 is a section on the line 99 of Figure 8.

, Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the cutter-carrying member is formed in two telescopically engaged sections 10 and 11. The section 10 is in the form of a rod or bar having at one extremity thereof a piercing member. 12 adapted to be forced. through the can top' T centrally thereof and having an angular portion 13 underlying the can top when the member 10 substantially parallels the same. The section 11 is in the form of a U-shaped housing having its ends opened and into which the outer end of the rod or bar 10 extends. This rod or bar operates adjacent the bight portion 14 and is of a diameter such that it has a sliding it between the side walls 15 of this hous ng. At its outer end the bar has extending therethrough a pin 16 paralleling the side walls 15 and having one end thereof engagin the inner face of the bight portion 14.

At its inner end the housing is flanged, as at 1?, this flange forming a means for attachment of a yoke 18 having spaced arms 19 and 20, the arms 19 and 20 being each formed with a bearing through which the rod 10 is slidably directed. This yoke straddles a cutter member 21 rotatably mounted upon the rod and consisting of a sleeve 22 forming the means for rotatably mounting the cutter member upon the rod, this sleeve having secured thereto, at the end thereof next adjacent the arm and piercing member 12 of the rod 10, a cutter disk 23 having a peripheral cutting edge and, in spaced relation to the outer face of this cutting disk, being formed with a bead or rim 2%. This head or rim is longitudinally spaced from the cutting edge of the cutting disk a distance such that between the cutting disk and bead may be received the marginal portions 25 of the can top employed for attaching the can top to the side wall 26 thereof. In this attachment a downwardly facing shoulder 27 is usually formed on the can top. The side walls 15 are connected by a. transversely extending pin 28 spaced from the bight portion 1a of the U-shaped housing a distance less than the length of the pin it; and against which the pin en gages to form a limit of extension of thmembers 10 and 11. the fact that the cutter member 22 is always in a fixed position with relation to the end of the section 11 of the cutter-carrying member and to the fact that the yoke 18 and housing 11 combine to produce a carriage which is slidable upon the section 10 carrying the piercing prong.

Pivoted to the carriage and more particularly to the arm 15 of the housing 11 by a pin 29 extending through these arms is the outer end of a bar 30, the pivot point being preferably located at the outer end of the member 11 for a purpose presently to appear. The forward end of this bar operatesvertically in a slot 31 formed in the lower end of the arm 19 of the yoke 18 and has rotatably mounted thereon a frustroconical bearing wheel 32. This member has its larger end disposed toward the inner end of the arm and when swung toward the cutter disk 23 of the cutter 22 clears the cutter edge thereof by a distance but slightly greater than the thickness of the side wall 26 of the can. It will be obvious that with this member engaged beneath the shoulder 27, the cutter member is engaged through the material of the can top, the cutter member can only escape to ride upon the upper surface of the can top by the shifting of the inner end of the bar 30 downwardly away from the cutter. It will furthermore be obvious that by applying pressure in opposite directions to the bar 30 and housing 11, moving the bar 30 upwardly into the notch 31, these pressures will combine to force the cutting edge of the cutter disk 23 into the can.

We have provided a single means in the form of a handle member 33 upon which Attention directed to pressure applied in one direction will cause application of pressure in opposite direc tions to the inner end of the bar and to the member 11. This handle member is pivoted at its inner end to the bar 30, as at 3 1, this pivot extending through vertical slots 35 formed in the side walls 15 of the member 11 at the inner end thereof and adjacent the arm 19 of the yoke. The handle 33 has fur ther a camming pivotal connection with the memberll comprising a pin 36 mounted in the handle member 33 and extending into slots 37 formed in the side walls 15 which are arcuately curved upwardly and outwardly from the slots 35.

The pivot pin 29 at its point of engagement with the bar passes through a slot 29 formed in the bar and extending longitudinally thereof, so that the bar 30 may have longitudinal movement with respect to the casing. The vertically directed slots 35 are so formed that the pin 34 fits closely therein, and these slots guide the inner end of the bar 30 so that the can top engaging member 32 thereof'is constantly in fixed relation to the plane of rotation of the cutter 23.

When the pivot 36 is located at the inner lower end of the slots 37, the inner end of the bar 30, and accordingly the bearing member 32, is moved downwardly from the cutter member 21 increasing the space be tween the cutting edge of the disk 23 and the engaging end of the roller. When, however, pressure is placed upon the handle 33 to force the same downwardly, the inner end of the bar moves upwardly toward the cutter member 21. At the same time, the downward pressure, due to resistance met when this roller engages beneath the flange 27 of the top and the cutter disk engages against the material of the top, will tend to force the member 11 downwardly. Thus movement of the handle member in one direction causes operation of the bearing member and the cutter carrying member in oppositedirections. The handle member 33 is preferably made so that it receives the member 11, being U-shaped in form as illus trated, and when these two members are. in the position in which the cut er member is engaged through the can top, or operative position, they form a single solid handle which may be engaged" by the hand.

Attention is directed to the fact that due to the peculiar connections, above set forth, between the handle 33, the bearing 32, and the cutter-carrying member, the pressure necessary to resist disengagement of the cutter disk 23 from its cutting engagement with the can top will be very slight, thus enabling the can opener to be easily operated by women or persons having weak hands Furthermore, since movement of the handle member in but one direction is necessary to accomplish the perforation of the can top ill) llil

by the cutter disk 23, this handle member can be so arranged that this pressure can be applied by weight and the perforation of the can top will not, therefore, depend upon the strength of the hand. The extensible connection between the sections 10 and 11 of the cutter-carrying member and the engage ment of the bearing member with the outer face of the can, together with the engagement of the rim or bead 24 with the outer face of the flange of the can, renders it unnecessary that a fairly accurate centering of the piercing member 12 be had the shaft or bar 10 sliding through its bearings and permitting the cutting member to maintain a fixed position with relation to the edge of the can.

It will be noted that the bar 10 with its piercing point and cutter 22 form the essential elements of a common type of cutter now upon the market, this particularly when the handle is applied to the bar 10, as illustrated in Figure 6. This cutter being old and well known is not claimed by us as our invention, but it will be noted that the'two types of cutters may be simultaneously and accordingly economically produced.

The form shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 embodies many features of the cutter-carrying member of the can opener shown in Figures 1 to 5. In these figures we have illustrated the section 10 identical with the section 10 of the cutter originally described. The section 11 is, however, formed from a flattened tube 38, as more clearly shown in Figure 7, one end of the tube having a continuation bent to form a yoke 39 straddling the bead 24 of the cutter-carrying member 22 and extending into the groove formed between the cutter disk 23 and this bead. The extreme internal width of the flattened tube 38 is equal to the length of the transversely extending pin 16 of the member 10, so that transverse movement of the outer end of the member 10 with relation to this tube is prevented. At the inner end of the tube a pair of vertically extending rivets 10 engage opposite sides of the bar 10 and effectually prevent relative transverse movement of the tube and bar at such inner end. The bar 10, which is circular in cross section in all of the forms, is held against rotation with relation to the tube by means of the pin 16 and is of a diameter equal to the mean diameter of the flattened tube 38, so that it is firmly held in alignment with the tube both vertically and transversely and against rotation with relation to this tube. In the form shown in Figures 1 to 5 this pin, in addition to maintaining the bar in parallelism with the bight portion 1% of the housing 11, likewise serves to prevent relative rotation of the bar and housing. In the form in Figures 7, 8 and 9 movement of the bar 10 toward the inner end of the section 11 is limited by a transversely extending pin which is indicated by the character 28 in these figures. In each instance the transversely extending pins 28 and 28' serve to limit the extension of the bar 10 from the section 11 at a point where the levera e will. not be so increased that undue strain will. be placed upon the bearings of the bar 10, these hearings being formed by the yoke in the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 and by the combination of the vertically extending rivets 10 and the upper and lower walls of the casing in the form shown in. Figures 7, 8 and 9.

In each of the forms shown in the above groups of figures movement of the bar into the section 11 is limited by a pin 11 extending transversely of the bar adjacent the inner cnd of the bar, this limiting pin being so arranged that the outer end of the bar does not extend beyond the outer end of the section 11 and such. that when the pin is operative to limit movement of the bar into the section 111, the cutter disk 23 is so spaced from the piercing point 12 that it will describe the circumference, with this piercing point as a center, smaller than the smallest type of can in common use. The bar 10 itself is of greater length than the section 11 in each instance and this makes for facility in assembling, which will be obvious when it is pointed out that with the pins 11 and 16 removed the bar may be inserted through the cutter-carrying member 22 and bearings at the inner end. of the section 11 and projected beyond the outer end of the section 11 to permit insertion of the pin 16,. after which the bar may be shifted forwardly and the pin 41 placed in position or, if found more desirable, the pin 41 and piercing point 12 may be omitted and the pin 16 placed in position and the bar 10 inserted from the outer end of the section 11. This is primarily due to the fact that the bar 10 is circular in cross section throughout its length.

The construction hereinbefore set forth being capable of a certain range of change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of our invention, we do not limit ourselves to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

Te claim z-- 1. A can opener consisting of a member having a pointed inner end to enter the top of the can, a second member telescopically engaged with the first named member, a third member pivoted to the second memher and carrying means at its inner end to en age the under side of the can top, a cutn'ieznber rotatable upon the first named incl. her and arranged above said top engaging means for cutting the top of the can, and a handle having connections with said so and third members whereby downward movement of the handle applies downward pressure to the outer end of the first member and upward pressure to the inner end of the third member.

A can opener consisting of a member having a pointed inner end to enter the top of the can, a second member telescopically engaged with the first member, a third member pivoted to the second member and carrying means at its. inner end to engage the under side or the can top, a cutting member rotatable upon the first named member and arranged above said top engaging means for cutting the top ot the can, a handle having connections with said second and third members whereby downward movement of the handle applies downward pressure to the outer end of the first member and upward pressure to the inner end of the third memher, and means upon the second member maintaining the cutting member in fixed relation thereto whereby to maintain the cutting member in constant relation to said top engaging means.

can opener consisting of a member having a pointed inner end to enter the top of the can, a secondmember telescopically engaged with the first member, a third member pivoted to the second member and carrying means at its inner end to engage the under side of the can top, a cutting member rotatable upon the first named member and arranged above said top engaging means for cutting the top of the can, and a handle pivotally connected at one end with said third member adjacent the inner end thereof and having a Sliding pivotal connection with the second member adjacent the inner end of the second member whereby downward movement oi the handle applies clownward pressure to the outer end of. the first IL'iCH'llJCl and upward pressure to the inner end of the third member.

4. In a can opener for cans the tops of which have upstanding rims at the periphery thereof, two telescopically engaged sec tions, one hearing at its inner end means whereby it may be attached to a can top for rotation about the point of attachment, a member rotatable and longitudinally shittable upon said section including a cutter disk and means engaging the rim of the can for holding the cutter disk in fixed relation to the rim, means upon the other section maintaining the member in fixed relatien to the inner end of such other section, a bar pivoted to said other section and hav ing at its inner end means for engaging beneath the top of the can, and means for simultaneously applyin downward pressure to such other section and upward pressure to the inner end of said bar.

5. In a can opener for cans the tops of which have upstanding rims at the periphery thereof. two telescopically engaged sections, one hearing at its inner end means whereby it may be attached to a can top for rotation about the point of attachment, a member rotatable and longitudinally shittable upon said section including a cutter disk and means engaging the rim of the can for holding the cutter disk in fixed relation to the rim, means upon the other section maintaining the member in fixed relation to the inner end of such other section, a bar pivoted to said other section and having at its inner end means for engaging beneath the top of the can, and means for simultaneously applying downward pressure to such other section and upward pressure to the inner end of said bar, including a handle pivoted to said bar adjacent the inner end thereof and having sliding pivotal connection with such other section.

6. In a can opener for cans the tops of which 1 tve upstanding rims at the periphery thereof, two telescopically engaged sections. one hearing at its inner end means whereby it may be attached to a can top for rotation about the point of attacl'unent, a member rotatable and longitudinally shiftable upon said section including a cutter disk and means engaging the rim of the can for holding the cutter disk in fixed re lation to the rim, means upon the other s *ction maintaining the member in fixed relation to the inner end of such other section, a bar pivoted to said other section and having at its inner end means for engaging beneath the top of the can, and means tor sin'iultaneously applying downward pressure to such other section and upward pressure to the inner end oi said bar, including a handle pivoted to said bar adjacent the inner end thereof and having sliding pivotal connection with such other section, said handle and said other section combining when said cutter disk and means for engaging beneath the top of the can are in operative relation to one another to provide a compact handle.

7. In a can opener for cans, the tops of which have upstanding rims at the pe riphery thereof, a bar circular in cross section, a fiat sheet metal easing into which the bar may telescope and having a bearing at one end through which the bar is directed, said bar having at itsinner end means wherebv it may be attached to a can top for rotation, a combined cutter and rim engaging element rotatable upon the bar, the casing including Side walls and a connecting wall for said side walls, the bar within the casing engaging adjacent faces of the side walls and being spaced from the connecting wall and a pin carried by the outer endo't the bar and engaging the connecting wall to maintain the bar in properly spaced relation to such connecting wall and said side walls to prevent rotation oi the bar.

8 In a can opener ,for cans the tops of which have upstanding rims at the periphery thereof, a bar circular in cross section, a flat sheet metal casing into which the bar may telescope and having a hearing at one end through which the bar is directed, said bar having at its inner end means whereby it may be attached to a can top for rotation, a combined cutter and rim engaging element rotatable upon the bar, the casing including side walls and a connecting wall for said side walls, the bar within the casing engaging adjacent faces of the side walls and being spaced from the connecting wall, a pin carried by the outer end of the bar and en-v gaging the connecting wall to maintain the bar in porperly spaced relation to such connecting wall and said side walls to-prevent rotation of the bar, and a second pin connecting said side walls and arranged in the path of the first named pin to limit movementor the rod out of the casing.

9. In a can opener for cans the-tops of which have upstanding rims at the periphery thereof, a bar circular in cross section, a fiat sheet metal easing into whichthe bar may telescope and having a bearing at one end through which the bar is directed, said bar having at its inner end means whereby it may be attached to a can top for rotation, a combined cutter and rim engaging element rotatable upon the bar, the casing including side walls and a connecting wall forsaid side walls, the bar within the easing engaging adjacent faces of the side walls and being spaced from the connecting wall, a 10in carried by the outer end'of the bar and engaging the connecting wall to maintain the bar in properly spaced relation tos'u'c'h connecting wall and said side walls to prevent rotation of the bar. and a yoke carried by the inner end of the casing engaging the bar at opposite sides of the combined cutter and rim engaging element to maintain the combined cutter and rim engaging element in fixed relation to the inner end of such casing.

10. In a can opener for cans the tops of which have upstanding rims at the periphery thereof, a bar circular in cross section, a flat sheet metal casing into which the bar may telescope and having a hearing at one end through which the bar is directed, said bar having at its inner end means whereby it may be attached to a can top for rotation, a combined cutter and rim engaging element rotatable upon the bar; the

casing including side walls and a connecting wall for said side walls, the bar within the casing engaging adjacent faces of the side walls and being spaced from the connecting wall, a pin carried by the outer end of the bar and engaging the connecting wall to maintain the bar in properly spaced relation to such connecting wall and sai d. side walls to prevent rotation of the bar and means at the inner end of the casing engagig the combined cutter and rim engaging element to maintain the same in fixed relation to the casing.

ll. In a can opener for cans the tops of which have upstanding rims at the periphery thereof, a bar circular in cross section, a flat sheet metal easing into which the bar may telescope and having a bearing at one end through which the bar is directed, said bar having at its inner end means whereby it may be attached to a can top for rotation, a combined cutter and rim engag ing elementrotatable upon the bar. the casing including side walls and a connecting wall for said side walls, the bar within the casing engaging adjacent faces of the side walls and being spaced from the connecting wall, a pin carried by the outer end of the bar and engaging the connecting wall to maintain the bar in properly sp'ace'drelation to such connecting wall and said side walls to prevent rotation of the hair, and a yoke carried by the inner end of the engaging the bar at opposite sides of the combined cutter and rim engaging element to maintain the combined cutter and rim engaging element in fixed relation to the inner end of such casing, one arm ofs'aid yoke being rigidly secured to the casing and having an opening formed therein through which the bar is directed and forming the bearing for said bar.

12. In a can opener for cans the tops of which have upstanding rims at the periphery thereof, two telescopically engaged sections, one hearing at its inner end means whereby it may be attached to a can top for rotation about the point of attachment, a member rotatable and longitudinally shiftable upon said section including a cutter disk and means engaging the rim of the can for holding the cutter disk in fixed relation to the rim, and means upon the other section maintaining the member in fixed relation to the inner end of such other section, the first named section being circular in cross section throughout its length, the last named section having at its inner end a bearing for the first named section, said other section including flat opposed side walls having their adjacent faces spaced apart adistance equal to the diameter of the first named section and a connecting wall therebetween, the first named section having at its outer end a pin directed therethrough and engaging the inner face of said connecting wall.

13. In a can opener for cans the tops of which have upstanding rims at the periphery thereof, two telescopically engaged sections, one hearing at its inner end means whereby it may be attached to a can top for rotation about the point of attachment, a member rotatable and longitudinally shiftable upon said section including a cutter disk and means engaging the rim of the can for holding the cutter disk in fixed relation to the rim, a yoke carried by said other section and engaging the first named section at opposite ends of said member for maintaining the member in fixed relation to the in nor end of such other section and providing a bearing for the first named section at the inner end of such other section, said other section including flat opposed side walls hzwing their faces spaced apart a distance equal to the diameter of the first named section and a connecting wall for such side Walls, the first named section'having at its outer end a pin directed therethrough and engaging the inner face of said connecting, Wall.

14. A can opener consisting of a rod having a pointed inner end to pierce the can top and form a pivot for the rod, a member slidable upon the rod, a second member pivoted to the first member, a wheel at the inner end of the second member to engage the under surface of the can top, a rotary cutter mounted on the'rod and above said wheel for cutting the can top and means upon the first member for retaining and guiding said cutter including a clip connect ed at one end to the first member and having a portion to straddle the rotary cutter.

15. A can opener consisting of a member having a pointed inner end to enter the top of the can, a second member slidable upon the first member, a third member pivoted to the second member and carrying means at its inner end to engage the under side of the top of the can, a cutting member rotatable and longitudinally adjustable upon the first named member for cutting the top of the can, means for maintaining the cutting member in fixed relation to said top engaging means and a handle for simultaneously applying downward pressure to the outer end of the second member and upward pressure to the inner end of the third member.

16. A can opener comprising a member having a piercing prong adapted to enter the center of a can end, a carriage on said member, a roller moving with the carriage and rotatable about an axis fixed with relation to the carriage, a second member movably mounted upon the carriage and having a second roller at one end thereof, means for shifting the second member to bring the roller thereof into proximity to the first named roller, one of said rollers having a cutting edge, said means for shifting said second member upon the carriage comprising a lever pivoted to the carriage.

17. In a can opener for cans the tops of which have upstanding rims at the periphery thereof, two telescopically engaged sections, one bearing at its inner end means whereby it may be attached to a can top for rotation about the point of attachment, a member rotatable and longitudinally shift able upon said section including a cutter disk and means engaging the rim of the can for holding the cutter disk in fixed relation thereto and a yoke carried by the other of said sections engaging the first named section at opposite ends of said member for maintaining the member in fixed relation to the inner end of such other section.

In testimony whereof we afiiX our signatures.

THOMAS A. KILLMAN. SEWELL DAVIS. 

